Not trying to take away from the Italians who take great pride in Columbus's alleged Italian heritage, but there is a growing theory that's backed up by substantial evidence that Columbus was actually 100% Spanish. The theory claims that he was a Sephardic Jew from Catalonia [I believe] and that he concocted this Italian story, because at the time what with Toquemada going around persecuting Jews, it wasn't too wise to openly proclaim oneself a Jew.

Anyhow, the theory rests among other things on Columbus's personal letters where there is no indication in his writing style whatsoever of any italianicisms as one would expect of an Italian immigrant to Spain, but its actually far more complicated than that, I just can't remember the other details.

Rayarena, if Colón was Jewish, then instead of discovery Hispanola and Cuba, he'd have landed in Brooklyn in seach of a good pastrami sandwich. I'm still having visions of the one I had at the Carnegie Deli last week.

No Mike, Colon could still be Jewish, why else did Havana have Calle Obipso which was Cuba's answer to the lower east side? In the definitive book on Cuban Jews, "Tropical Diaspora," the author, Robert M. Levine, talks about wonderful Jewish delis in Old Havana where everything from vanilla and chocolate soda water to Matzoh Ball soup, pastrami sandwiches on rye bread and dill pickles in barrels were the call of the day! Just like NYC's famed Katz's Deli.

So there! That's proof that Columbus was Jewish! He founded Obipso Street! LOL..

Well even though I still think that Columbus was Spanish, don't feel bad! Don't forget that an Italian invented one of the greatest inventions of all time! The telephone was invented by an Italian immigrant living in Cuba [I forget his name] even while Alexander Graham Bell got the credit!

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